Holder for gasoline lantern

ABSTRACT

A device for displaying a pair of lighted gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other from a small pleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface. The lantern holder of the invention actually comprises a pair of individual holders, each of which in use supports one lantern, and which have features similar to those of the lantern holder shown and described in my copending application, Ser. No. 436,935, filed concurrently herewith. The individual holders of the pair, each of which is adjustable for use with lanterns of different sizes, each include a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bent substantially 180 degrees intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in everlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof. The individual holders of the pair have connecting means, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions of the respective strips and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, and detent means integral with the connecting means and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns each having its bottom in place in one of the receptacles.

United States Patent Garrett [451 Nov. 12, 1974 HOLDER FOR GASOLINE LANTERN [76! Inventor: Billy R. Garrett, Fort Worth, Tex.

[22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 [21 Appl. No.: 436,934

[52] US. Cl 211/13, 248/309, 248/310, 248/311, 211/86 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6m 13/00 [58] Field of Search 248/210, 226 E, 309, 310, 248/311; 211/75, 86, 87, 88, 71, 13

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,148 4/1886 Chvala.... 248/310 1,595,419 4/1926 Wollerm. 248/295 2,763,413 /1956 Felton 1 248/311 2,875,974 3/1959 Albert 248/310 2,960,601 11/1960 Higgins 248/311 3,008,679 11/1961 Powell 1 248/311 3,745,329 7/1973 Runey, .lr 248/310 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ. Bruce Synnott, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for displaying a pair of lighted gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other from a small pleasure boat, usually 'pow ered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface. The lantern holder of the invention actually comprises a pair of individual holders, each of which in use supports one lantern, and which have features similar to those of the lantern holder shown and described in my copending application, Ser. No, 436,935, filed concurrently herewith, The individual holders of the pair, each of which is adjustable for use with lanterns of different sizes, each include a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bent substantially 180 degrees intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in everlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof.

The individual holders of the pair have connecting means, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions of the respective strips and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other. and detent means integral with the connecting means and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns each having its bottom in place in one of the receptacles.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HOLDER FOR GASOLINE LANTERN This invention relatesto a holder for a gasoline lantern, and it concerns more particularly a device as hereinafter described for displaying a pair of lighted gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, from a small pleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by abroad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a holder for suspending a pair of gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other from a gunwale of such a boat, at night, usually when the boat is secured or at anchor, not in motion, as while fishing, or as a safety precaution, or for any reason that lanterns maybe needed.

The inner surfaces of the gunwales of such boats are commonly padded or upholstered and have ornamental coverings of vinyl or other material, and an advantageous feature of the holder of the invention is that it will not spoil the upholstery or finish of a gunwale to which it may be applied.

Thelantern holder of the invention actually comprises a pair of individual holders, each of which in use supports one lantern, and which have features similar to those of the lantern holder shown and described in my'copending application Ser. No. 436,935, filed con currently herewith.

The individual holders of the pair, each of which is adjustable for use with lanterns of different sizes, each include a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, preferably aluminum, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bent substantially 180 degrees intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof.

The individual holders of the pair have connecting means as hereinafter described, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions of the respective strips and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, and detent means integral with the connecting means and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns each having its bottom in place in one of the receptacles.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view showing fragmentarily a gunwale of a boat having a holder for a gasoline lantern. embodying the invention in its operative position as applied to the gunwale, and showing a lantern in place in the holder;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder, showing in broken lines the bails or handles of a pair of Ianterns (not shown) in place in the holder; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view. Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates generally a gunwale, shown fragmentarily, which is representative of the gunwales of small pleasure boats now in use, and which are usually powered by outboard engines. The gunwale 10 is of hollow construction and is characterized by a broad top surface, indicated by the numeral 11, and has inner and outer wall surfaces l2, 13 which extend downwardly from the top surface 11.

The numeral 20 designates generally a conventional gasoline lantern having a cylindrical fuel tank 21 at the bottom, and having a bail or handle 22 at the top, and the numeral 25 indicates generally a holder for a pair of gasoline lanterns 20 embodying this invention, as

hereinafter described.

The lantern holder 25 of the invention actually comprises a pair of individual holders, indicated generally by the numerals 30, each of which in use supports one lantern 20.

The individual holders 30 of the pair each include a cylindrical receptacle, indicated by the numeral 40, which is comparatively short relative to its diameter, and which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom 21 of a lantern 20 received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip 50 which is characterized byits inherent spring tension but is soft and easily bent, and which advantageously may be made of aluminum.

The strip 50 is bent substantially l degrees inter mediate its ends, and in use has portions thereof, indicated by the numerals 51, 52, 53, in overlying engagement with the top surface 11 and the adjacent inner and outer surfaces 12, 13 of a gunwale 10, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith. The last mentioned portion 53 extends downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface 11 and has means as hereinafter described removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle 40, to support the receptacle 40 on the gunwale 10 at a predetermined distance below the top thereof.

The portion 53 of the strip 50 has a longitudinal slot 55 therein for engagement by bolts 56 whereby the strip 50 is removably and adjustably connected to an opposing slide element 60, which has a corresponding slot 61 therein forengagement by the bolts 56 and is removably and adjustably connected by bolts 56 to one side of the receptacle 40.

An end portion 52 of the strip 50, which in use extends downwardly a substantial distance below the top of the gunwale 10, in overlying engagement with the inner wall surface 12 thereof, has a series of S curves, corrugations or undulations, indicated by the numeral 54, formed therein, for yieldable, frictional engagement with the inner wall surface 12 to better secure the holder 30 against displacement relative to the gunwale 10 but without spoiling the upholstery or finish thereof.

The individual holders 30 of the pair have connecting means as hereinafter described, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions 51 of the respective strips 50 and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders 30 in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, and detent means integral with the connecting means and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles 22 of a pair of lanterns 20 each having its bottom 21 in place in one of the receptacles 40.

The connecting means above mentioned consists of an elongated flat bar 70 which extends horizontally across and between the middle portions 51 of the respective strips 50 and has upturned end portions 71, which are slotted longitudinally as at 72. The middle portions 51 of the strips 50 are slotted longitudinally,

as at 57, for engagement by bolts 80, which are also passed through corresponding holes in the bar 70 whereby the bar 70 is adjustably and removably connected to the middle portions 51 of the strips 50.

In use the upstanding end portions 71 of the bar 70 serve as detent means for the bails or handles 22 of the two lanterns supported on the respective holders 30, which are hooked over them. An elongated substantially rectangular plate 90, which lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane of a major portion of the bar 70, has reduced end portions for engagement with the slots 72 of the upturned end portions 71, to loosely secure the plate 90 to the bar 70 and in use serves as a keeper for the bails or handles 22 of the lanterns 20, to prevent accidental displacement thereof. The plate 90 is easily removable from the bar 70 to disengage the bails or handles 22 therefrom.

I claim:

1. In a device for displaying a pair of lighted gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other from a small pleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface, the combination of a pair of individual holders, each of which in use supports one lantern, each including a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bent substantially 180 degrees intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustablyconnecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof, the individual holders of the pair having connecting means, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions of the respective strips and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, and detent means integral with the connecting means and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns each having its bottom in place in one of the receptacles.

2. The structure of claim 1, the middle portions of the strips having longitudinal slots therein and the connecting means consisting of an elongated flat bar which extends horizontally across and between the middle portions of the respective strips and has upturned end portions, the bar being rigidly and removably connected to the middle portions of the strips, whereby it is adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, by bolts which are passed through the slots of the strips and through corresponding holes therefor in the bar, the upturned end portions of the bar in use serving as detent means for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns having their bottoms in place in the receptacles, the upturned end portions of the bar having longitudinal slots therein, and an elongated substantially rectangular plate extending between the upturned end portions of the bar and having reduced end portions received in the slots thereof, the rectangular plate in use being engageable by the bails or handles and coacting with the upturned end portions of the bar to prevent accidental displacement of the bails or handles therefrom. 

1. In a device for displaying a pair of lighted gasoline lanterns arranged in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other from a small pleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface, the combination of a pair of individual holders, each of which in use supports one lantern, each including a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bent substantially 180 degrees intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof, the individual holders of the pair having connecting means, rigidly and removably connected to middle portions of the respective strips and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, connecting the holders in side by side, spaced apart relation to each other, and detent means integral with the connecting meAns and coacting therewith for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns each having its bottom in place in one of the receptacles.
 2. The structure of claim 1, the middle portions of the strips having longitudinal slots therein and the connecting means consisting of an elongated flat bar which extends horizontally across and between the middle portions of the respective strips and has upturned end portions, the bar being rigidly and removably connected to the middle portions of the strips, whereby it is adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, by bolts which are passed through the slots of the strips and through corresponding holes therefor in the bar, the upturned end portions of the bar in use serving as detent means for engagement by the bails or handles of a pair of lanterns having their bottoms in place in the receptacles, the upturned end portions of the bar having longitudinal slots therein, and an elongated substantially rectangular plate extending between the upturned end portions of the bar and having reduced end portions received in the slots thereof, the rectangular plate in use being engageable by the bails or handles and coacting with the upturned end portions of the bar to prevent accidental displacement of the bails or handles therefrom. 